A Decade of US War Costs

On June 29, Reuters writer Daniel Trotta headlined, "Cost of war at least $3.7 trillion and counting," explaining:

In June, when Obama claimed America's post-9/11 (Iraq/AfPak) wars cost $1 trillion, he did what he does best - lied about how much, in fact, was spent and projected, five or more times his figure.

According to a June Brown University Watson Institute for International Studies (WIIS) "Cost of War" report, up to $5,444 trillion was spent and projected with all related expenses and obligations included. More on that below.

In March, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) made its own estimate in an Amy Belasco report titled, "The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11," saying:

Post-9/11, America "initiated three military operations:"

(1) Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in:

-- Afghanistan (OEF-A), combined with an undeclared Pakistan one; as well as small Global Wars on Terror (GWOT) in

(2) Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) for military operations related to homeland and base security, including mobilizing National Guard troops to protect military installations, airports, power plants, port facilities, and other vital infrastructure.

In 2008, Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes published "The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict," available in book form from Amazon. Calling it a war of choice, they included current and estimated future costs, as well as intangible ones, including:

Stiglitz and Bilmes suggested that America is in long-term decline, a view shared by Chalmers Johnson, Immanuel Wallerstein, Gabriel Kolko and others.

WIIS' entire study can be accessed through the following link:

http://costsofwar.org/

Produced by a team of economists, anthropologists, political scientists, legal experts, and a physician, it discusses human, social, political, environmental, and economic costs.

This article covers the latter. It's disturbing enough to question how much longer this nightmare can be tolerated, killing millions, harming many more, laying waste to countries attacked, destroying a generation of young men, and heading America for bankruptcy, tyranny and ruin to satisfy out-of-control corrupted wealth and power interests.

When totaling the known costs of war, including veterans' medical and disability obligations, the amount way exceeds Stiglitz and Bilmes $3 trillion estimate.

Military spending affects debt, interest rates, jobs, and investment. While defense related employment increases, more productive sectors lose out, resulting in a net overall macroeconomic loss. Also, while military infrastructure grows, public infrastructure and investment spending suffer, creating what some call an "infrastructure deficit," markedly increasing in the last decade to fuel America's war machine.

Post-9/11, WIIS said direct and indirect war costs "have been consistently minimized, misunderstood, or hidden from public view," including shocking human costs and enormous future obligations. Undiscussed, taxpayers don't know where their money goes, how much, for what, how long, or why.

Overall it's vital information people need to know to let them decide if it's worth it. It never is, despite duplicitous national security claims. Only imperial interests and war profiteers gain at the expense of people needs losing out for them.

As a result, America's business isn't just war. It's grand theft Pentagon and throughout Washington to steal unknown trillions, staggering amounts going back years.

Post-9/11, it's greater than ever because bipartisan criminality OKs it, profiting also from campaign contribution kickbacks and hidden favors. Let the good times roll. Only taxpayers lose out.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.